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Acknowledgment:
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This translation of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony was made available to
Copt-Net through the efforts of Kathryn Welter, from the congregation of St
Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Boston. This translation is based on a rather
preliminary translation from the Arabic Coptic Book of Prayer for Deacons
(khedmet el-shammas).
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The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
Throughout the service rubrics, P is used to indicate the priest, D indicates
the deacon, and C indicates the congregation. Also, the symbol [Groom] should
be replace with the first name of the groom and [Bride] should be replace with
the first name of the bride. Please notice that in many cases, several parts
of the service could be ommitted or are said in secret. If you plan to use the
following text to produce a formatted booklet for a wedding, it may be a good
idea to coordinate with the presiding priest to find out what sections should
be included in the booklet.
INVOCATION
----------
P In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we declare
the marriage of the blessed Orthodox son [Groom] to the blessed
Orthodox daughter [Bride]. In the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit. Blessed be God, the Father Almighty.
D Amen.
C The Lord's Prayer
P In the name of our Lord and our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
we declare the marriage of the blessed Orthodox daughter
[Bride] to the blessed Orthodox son [Groom]. Blessed be the Only
Begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
D Amen.
C The Lord's Prayer
P In the name of our Lord and our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
we complete the marriage of the blessed Orthodox son [Groom] to
the blessed Orthodox daughter [Bride]. Blessed be the Holy
Spirit the Comforter.
D Amen.
C The Lord's Prayer.
(Prayer)
D Stand up to pray.
The priest, bowing towards his fellow priests, faces the west and
signs the Cross over the people.
P Peace be with you all.
C And with your spirit.
The PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
--------------------------
P Let us give thanks unto the Beneficient and Merciful God, the
Father of our Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ. For He has
covered us, supported us, preserved us, accepted us unto Him,
had compassion on us, sustained us and brought us unto this
hour.
Let us then ask Him, The Almighty Lord our God, to keep us in
all peace this holy day and all the days of our life.
D Pray
C Lord, have mercy (Kyrie eleison)
P O Master, Lord, God Almighty, Father of our Lord, our God, our
Savior, Jesus Christ, We thank you upon every condition, for
any condition, and in whatever condition.
For you have covered us, supported us, preserved us,
accepted us unto you, had compassion on us, sustained us and
brought us unto this hour.
D Pray that God have mercy upon us, pity us, hear us, help us,
accept the prayers and supplications of His Saints for our
good at all times and forgive our sins.
C Lord have mercy. (Kyrie eleison)
P Wherefore we pray and entreat your goodness, O Lover-of-
mankind. Grant us to complete this holy day and all the days
of our life in all peace with your fear.
All envy, all temptation, all the working of Satan, the
intrique of wicked people, the rising up of enemies, hidden
and manifest,
(He bows himself eastward and crosses himself)
Do cast away from us,
(He turns westward and crosses the people)
And from all your people,
(He faces the east and crosses the Altar.)
And from your holy place,
And from this bride and the groom,
Whereas of things that are good and useful do grant unto us.
For you are He who gave us the authority to trample on
serpents and scorpions and every power of the enemy. And lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Through the grace and mercies and love-of-man of your only-
Begotten Son, Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
Through whom is due unto you glory and honor and power
together with Him and the Holy Spirit the Life-giving who is
consubstantial with you now and ever, and to the ages of all
ages, Amen.
D "This is the censer of pure gold, holding sweet aroma, in the
hands of Aaron the Priest, offering up incense upon the
altar."
Numbers 16:17-18 (sung in Coptic)
We worship Thee, O Christ, with Thy good Father and Thy Holy
Spirit, for Thou didst come and didst save us.
INTRODUCTION AND FIRST EPISTLE
------------------------------
D The first Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians.
Let his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Paul, called to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ through the will
of God, and Sosthenes our brother, into the church of God
which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ
Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call
the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from
the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf,
for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ: that
in every thing you are enriched by Him, in all utterance, and
in all knowledge: even as the testimony of Christ was
confirmed in you: so that you come behind in no gift:
waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Who shall also
confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is faithful, by whom you were called to the
fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that
there be no divisions among you: but that you be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement.
The Grace of God the Father be with us all. Amen.
SANCTUS (sung in Coptic)
-------
C Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was born of the
Virgin, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for
us, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who rose from the dead
and ascended to heaven, have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit. Now, and
ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us.
GOSPEL LITANY
-------------
P Pray
D Stand up to pray.
P Peace be with you all.
C And with your spirit.
P O Master, the Lord Jesus Christ our God, who said to His
saintly disciples and honored Apostles,
Many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things
which you see, but they did not, and to hear the things which
you hear, but they did not.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears
for they hear. May we be made worthy to hear and act by Your
holy Gospels, through the prayers of your saints.
D Pray concerning the Holy Gospel
C Lord have mercy. (Kyrie eleison)
P Remember also, O Lord all those who have asked us to remember
them in our prayers and supplications which we lift up to You,
O Lord our God. Those who have preceded and slept, repose
their souls, and heal the sick.
For You are the life of us all, our salvation, our hope,
our healing and the resurrection of us all.
And to You we send up to the highest the glory, honor and
worship, with Your good Father, and the Holy Spirit,
Lifegiving and Consubstantial with You now and forever, Amen.
INTRODUCTION TO GOSPEL
----------------------
D Stand ye in fear of God, and listen to the Holy Gospel. A
reading from the Gospel according to St. John the Evangelist
and the saintly disciple. May his blessings be with us all.
From the Psalms of our father, David, the king and the
prophet, May his blessings be with us all.
Psalm 85: 10-11: Mercy and truth are met together:
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Truth shall spring out of the earth and righteousness
shall look down from heaven.
Alleluia.
Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord of Powers, our
Lord and our God and our Savior, the King of us all, our Lord
Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, who is glorified
forever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL
------
John 1:1-18: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning
with God. All things were made by him: and without him was
not any thing made that was made.
In him was life: and the life was the light of men. And
the light shined in the darkness: and the darkness
comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same
came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men
through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was
sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light,
which lights every man that comes to the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the
world knew him not.
He came to his own, and his own received him not. But as
many as received him to them he gave his power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe onhis name: Which were
born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God. And the word was made flesh, and
dwelt among us, and he beheld his glory, the glory as of the
only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John
bore witness to him, and cried, saying, "this was he of whom
I spoke he that comes after me is preferred before me." For
he was before me, And of his fulness have we all received, and
grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses by grace and
truth came by Jesus Christ.
Glory be to God forever and ever.
GOSPEL RESPONSE (in Coptic) may be omitted
---------------
C He who is not incarnate became incarnate, and the LOGOS [words
of God] took flesh, He who has no beginning has begun. He who
is not temporal became time-bound.
For blessed is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, the
Perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify Thee.
PRAYERS
-------
P Pray
D Stand up to pray.
P Peace be with you all.
C And with your spirit.
P Again let us pray God Almighty, the Father of our Lord, God
and Savior Jesus Christ. We pray and entreat Your goodness,
O lover of man.
(Intercession of Peace)
Remember, O Lord, the peace of Thine One Only Holy Universal,
and Apostolic Church.
D Pray for the peace of the One Only Universal and Apostolic
Orthodox Church of God.
C Lord have mercy. (Kyrie eleison)
P This which exists from the ends of the world to the uttermost
ends thereof.
(Intercession for the Fathers)
Pray for our Pontiff, the pope Abba Shenouda, Pope and
Patriarch, Lord Archbishop of the great city of Alexandria and
for our Orthodox bishops.
C Lord have mercy.
P In keeping keep him unto us for many years and peaceful times.
(Intercession for the Congregation)
Remember, O Lord, our congregations. Bless them.
D Pray for this holy Church and our gatherings.
P Grant that they be unto us without prevention nor hindrance,
that we may hold them according to Thy holy and blessed will.
Houses of prayer, houses of purity, houses of blessing. Grant
them unto us, O Lord, and unto Thy servants coming after us
forever.
Arise, O Lord God, let all that hate Thine Holy Name flee
from before Thy face.
As for Thy people, let them be through blessing, a
thousand-thousandfold and ten-thousand-ten-thousand-fold;
fulfilling Thy will.
CREED
-----
C Truly we believe in One God, God The Father Amighty, who has
created heaven and earth, the things which are seen and the
things which are not seen.
We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, The Only-begotten
Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. Light from
light, True God from True God, begotten not made,
consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were
made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from
heaven, He was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin
Mary.
And He became man, and He was crucified for us before
Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day
He rose again from the dead, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended up into the heavens, He sat at the Right Hand
of His Father, and He is coming again in His Glory to judge
the living and the dead, of Whose Kingdom there shall be no
end.
Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord Giver of
life, Who proceeds from the Father. We worship and glorify
Him with the Father and the Son, who spoke by the prophets,
And in One Holy Universal Church.
We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We
look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
MARRIAGE PRAYERS
----------------
P O God who created man by His own Hands, and gave him [man] the
woman for his help and strength, Now our Master, be in the
midst of the groom and his helpmate, adjoin them through the
pledge of companionship, so they may be united with love, and
say unto them "My peace I give you both." "My peace I leave
with you." For You are our Peace. And unto You do we offer
the glory and honor with Your ONly Begotten Son and the Holy
Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
D response
C O Christ the word of the Father, the only Begotten God, give
us Your peace, that is filled with all happiness.
For blessed is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
the Perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify.
P O Master lover of mankind who through You completed the
adjoinment of man and woman. We ask You to bless this
ceremony for Your servants. Make them worthy for the
blessing, and complete their unity without blemish, and may it
please Your Living Will, for You are our God who created man
from earth, and gave him an helpmate whom You created from him
to be his wife, compaion and help, and to give birth to boys
and girls so mankind could multiply. Now O lord bless Your
servants [Groom] and [Bride] to grow and multiply through your
compassion. Give them a blessed fruit, and adjoin the faith
with wisdom, purity, piety; so they may unite through their
bodies and their souls. Make them worthy for Your blessings.
Through Christ Jesus our Lord . . .
C My peace that I have received from My Father, I leave unto
you, now and forever.
For blessed is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit,
The perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify you.
P O Master, Lord, our God, who accompanied the boy of Abraham
the Patriarch, when he (Abraham) sent him to take a wife for
his son Isaac. And at the waters he chose Rebecca. Now our
Master lover of mankind, accompany Your servants [Groom] and
[Bride]. Bless them and protect their agreement between them
for each other. Strengthen them with Your Perfection.
Solidify their covenant.
Assist them in their youth, for since the beginning You
created male and female. Through You, You gave the woman to
man, for his help and to give birth to mankind.
Purify Your servants, our fathers and brethren who
gathered and participated with us in the prayer. Protect them
through the intercesssion of our Lady Mother of God the Saint
Mary and all the ranks of Your saints. Amen.
C May God bless us; we shall give praise to His holy Name at all
times; His song of praise is always on our lips.
Blessed is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
VESTMENT LITANY
---------------
P O Master, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, who ornamented the sky
with the stars and manifested the earth with the magnificence
of the many different kinds of fruitful plants, and who
granted humanity heavenly and divine things. Now also, O
Righteous One, Lover of Mankind, we ask you to bless these
vestments, so that they become for your two servants who are
wearing them, through Your goodness, vestments of glory and
salvation, vestments of joy and happiness. Preserve them both
pure in soul, body, and spirit, that their life be healthy,
peaceful, and chaste through the act of righteousness. Grant
them both heavenly and earthly comfort that they become rich
through charitable deeds; fill their houses and storage places
with all blessings, and that they become worthy of doing your
will at all times, for you are merciful and righteous. Glory
by to You, with Your good Father and the Holy Spirit, the
Giver of Life, now and forever. Amen.
C The spiritual raiment that envelops Michael, and the girdle of
pearls you have dooned on, O bridegroom.
Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison
PRAYER FOR THANKSGIVING
-----------------------
We thank You Our Lord God, the Almighty Being before all ages.
Master of all, who ornamented the heavens by His Word, and
founded the earth and its inhabitants. You gathered the
dispersed to one, and made one from two. Now our Master, we
ask You for Your servants, to be worthy for Your word through
pledge. Make them have the undispersed love for each other,
through their unity. Establish them on the foundation of Your
Holy Church, so they may lead the way according to the bond of
agreement, for You are the bond of Love, and made their
harmony through Your Word and perfect for them Your Will
through Your Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord. This is
for whom is worthy and the Holy Spirit, the glory, honor, and
worship, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
C We worship You O Christ With Your Good Father and the Holy
Spirit, for You came and saved us.
SECOND EPISTLE
--------------
D The Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians, May his blessings be
with us all, Amen.
Ephesians 5:22-6:3 Wives, submit yourselves to your own
husbands, as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the
wife, even as christ is the head of the church: and he is the
savior of the body.
Therefore, as the church is subject to Christ, so let the
wives be to their own husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the
church, and gave himself for it.
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
water by the word.
That he might present it to himself a glorious church,
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He
that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated
his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the
Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his
flesh, and of his bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall be joined to his wife, and they two shall be one
flesh.
This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ
and the church.
Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love
his wife even as himself: and the wife, see that she
reverences her husband.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is
right, Honor your father and mother, which is the first
commandment with promise, that it may be well with you, and
you may live long on the earth.
The grace of God The Father be with us all. Amen.
INTRODUCTION TO SANCTUS (COPTIC HYMN)
-----------------------
The Good Spirit, The Paraclete, that dwelt upon the apostles on
Pentecost Sunday, and spoke in many tongues.
When the fifty days were over, the twelve apostles were gathered
together.
And the Good Spirit, the Paraclete descended from heaven, and
spread over each one, so they spoke in many tongues.
SANCTUS (HOLY, HOLY, HOLY)
-------
C Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was born of the
Virgin, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who was crucified for
us, have mercy upon us.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Who rose from the dead
and ascended to heaven, have mercy upon us.
Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Now, and
ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
O Holy Trinity, have mercy upon us.
GOSPEL LITANY FOR MARRIAGE
--------------------------
P Pray
D Stand up to pray.
P Peace be with you all
C And with your spirit.
P O master, the Lord Jesus Christ our God, who said unto His
saintly disciples and honored Apostles, Many prophets and
righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and did
not see, and to hear the things which you hear, and heard them
not.
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears
for they hear. May we be made worthy to hear and do your holy
Gospels, through the prayers of your saints.
D Pray concerning the Holy Gospel
C Lord have mercy (Kyrie Eleison)
P Rememeber also, O Lord, all those who have asked us to
remember them in our prayers and supplications which we lift
up onto You, O Lord our God. Those who have preceded and
slept, repose their souls, Thesick heal.
For You are the life of us all, our salvation, our hope,
our healing and the resurrection of us all.
And unto You do we send up to the highest the glory,
honor, and worship, with Your good Father, and the Holy
spirit, Life-giving and Consubstantial with You Now and
forever. Amen.
D Stand you in the fear of God, let us hear the Holy Gospel. A
chapter according to St. Matthew the evangelist and the
saintly disciple let his blesings be with us all.
From the Psalms of our father David the king and the prophet
let his blessings be with us all. Amen.
Psalm 19: 5-6--Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his
chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race. Your
wife shall be a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house:
your children like olive plants round about your table.
Alleluia.
Psalm 128: 3-4--Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the
Lord of powers, our Lord and our God and our Savior, the King
of us all, Our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God,
for whom is Glory forever and ever. Amen.
D Matthew 19:1-6--And it came to pass that, when Jesus had
finished these sayings, he departed from Galilee, and came to
the coasts of Judaea beyond Jordan, And great multitudes
followed him, and he healed them there.
The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying
to Him: "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for
every cause?" And He answered and said to them: "Have you
not read that he which made them at the beginning, made them
male and female?" And he said: "For this cause shall a man
leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and
they two shall be one flesh." Wherefore, they are no more
two, but one flesh, What, therefore, God has joined together,
let no man put asunder.
Those that have been united together in harmony by The Holy
Spirit, like a harp, are praising God continuously.
With Psalms and Praises and spiritual songs, day and night,
from the heart, without interruption.
RESPONSORIAL WEDDING PRAYERS
----------------------------
P O Lord God Almighty, Who are in heaven, the Lord of our
forefathers; we beseech You to hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy. (Kyrie Eleison)
O God who created the heaven, the earth, and the sea, and
everything therein, and ornamented them with Your wisdom. We
ask You, O Lord, to hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who made man in His image, after His likeness, and put
him in Paradise, we ask You O Lord to hear us and have mercy
on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who created woman from Adam's rib and did grant him that
she should be his helpmate; we beseech You to hear us and have
mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who blessed Abraham and Sarah and granted him the title
of Head of all Patriachs; we beseech You to hear us and have
mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who preserved Isaac and gave him Rebecca and saved him
from his enemies, we ask You O lord to hear us and have mercy
on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who blessed Jacob and didst grant him to be heir of the
promise; we beseech You to hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who raised up Joseph as a leader and granted him Asenath
and through him saved Egypt from hunger; we beseech You to
hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who was pleased to be born of a woman in the fulness of
time to enlighten mankind; we beseech You to hear us and have
mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who were at the wedding of Cana of Galilee and blessed
that marriage; bless this marriage as you blessed that
marriage. We beseech You to hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who transformed water into genuine wine by Your divine
power, bless Your two servants and purify them with Your love
for mankind, we ask You O Lord to hear us and have mercy on
us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who attended the wedding of Cana of Galilee, and blessed
that wedding, and transformed the water into wine by Your
divine power, bless and protect this wedding of Your servants
[Bride] and [Groom] in peace, harmony and love and protect them.
We ask You O Lord to hear us and have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
O God who are beneficient and compassionate and full of
goodness and affection, O God make us glorify Your goodness
O Lover of mankind. We ask You O Lord to hear us and have
mercy on us.
Lord have mercy.
C O Christ the LOGOS of the Father, the Only Begotten Son, grant
us your peace that is full of every joy.
For blessed is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the
perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify You.
PRAYERS
-------
P Pray
D Stand up to pray.
P Peace be with you all.
C And with your spirit.
P Again let us pray God Almighty, the Father of our Lord, God
and Savior Jesus Christ. We pray and entreat Your goodness,
O lover of man.
(Intercession of Peace)
Remember, O Lord, the peace of Thine One Only Holy Universal,
and Apostolic Church.
D Pray for the peace of the One Only Universal and Apostolic
Orthodox Church of God.
C Lord have mercy. (Kyrie eleison)
P This which exists from the ends of the world to the uttermost
ends thereof.
(Intercession for the Fathers)
Pray for our Pontiff, the pope Abba Shenouda, Pope and
Patriarch, Lord Archbishop of the great city of Alexandria and
for our Orthodox bishops.
C Lord have mercy.
P In keeping keep him unto us for many years and peaceful times.
(Intercession for the Congregation)
Remember, O Lord, our congregations. Bless them.
D Pray for this holy Church and our gatherings.
P Grant that they be unto us without prevention nor hindrance,
that we may hold them according to Thy holy and blessed will.
Houses of prayer, houses of purity, houses of blessing. Grant
them unto us, O Lord, and unto Thy servants coming after us
forever.
Arise, O Lord God, let all that hate Thine Holy Name flee
from before Thy face.
As for Thy people, let them be through blessing, a
thousand-thousandfold and ten-thousand-ten-thousand-fold;
fulfilling Thy will.
CREED
-----
C Truly we believe in One God, God The Father Amighty, who has
created heaven and earth, the things which are seen and the
things which are not seen.
We believe in One Lord Jesus Christ, The Only-begotten
Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. Light from
light, True God from True God, begotten not made,
consubstantial with the Father, through whom all things were
made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from
heaven, He was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin
Mary.
And He became man, and He was crucified for us before
Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day
He rose again from the dead, according to the Scriptures.
He ascended up into the heavens, He sat at the Right Hand
of His Father, and He is coming again in His Glory to judge
the living and the dead, of Whose Kingdom there shall be no
end.
Yes, we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord Giver of
life, Who proceeds from the Father. We worship and glorify
Him with the Father and the Son, who spoke by the prophets,
And in One Holy Universal Church.
We confess one baptism for the remission of sins. We
look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the
world to come. Amen.
FIRST MATRIMONIAL PRAYER
------------------------
P O God who is eternal and everlasting, who has no beginning,
whose wisdom has no limit and whose power has no end, who
created man from the earth, and gave him a woman out of his
side, and accommodated her for him as his helpmate, as it
pleases Your Lordship and goodness, because it is not suitable
for a man to be alone. We ask You now our King to join Your
two servants [Groom] and [Bride] to be united in harmony in one
body, so let them enter into the law of happiness, and abide
in Your truthful teachings. Grant them a living fruit out of
the womb so that they rejoice in the birth of their children
and have a peaceful life.
Prepare them for every good work through Christ Jesus our
Lord.
C As You granted peace to your saintly disciples, tell us as You
told them, "My peace I give to you."
The gate of the east is Mary the Virgin, the chaste bridal
chamber for the pure bridegroom.
SECOND MATRIMONIAL PRAYER
-------------------------
P O Father our God who formed all nature, who formed man from
earth and made for him a helpmate from the rib You have taken
from him and joined them together in marriage for life and
continuous growth of mankind, and told them to grow and
multiply and fill the earth and rule it. We ask You also O
Lover of mankind, bless the union of Your servants [Groom] and
[Bride] that were united together according to Your will.
Bless them as you blessed our forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob. Bless them as You blessed Abraham with Sarah, elevate
them as Isaac and Rebecca, and multiply them as You multiplied
Jacob and his offspring. Glorify them as You have glorified
Joseph in Egypt. Grant them purity. Multiply them as Alkana
and Anna, whom You blessed and gave Samuel, the faithful
prophet. Make them worthy of the good tidings of the pure
Archangel like Zacharias and Elizabeth, whom You gave John the
Baptist, the greatest among the offspring of women, that
became a forerunner before Your only Begotten Son.
You also, O Master Lord, blessed Youakim and Anna and made
from them the metaphysical ark, the Mother of God, Saint Mary,
of whom Your Only Begotten Son was incarnate and came into the
world, and blessed the wedding of Cana of Galilee; bless Your
servants [Groom] and [Bride] that were united at this hour.
Grant them prosperity, wisdom, and salvation's blessings, so
that they may be in all goodliness and all purity united in
their bodies and souls and be worthy of Your blessing and
glorify Your Holy Name together with Your Only Begotten Son
and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.
C My peace that I have received from My Father, I leave unto
you, now and forever.
For blessed is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, The
perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify you.
THIRD MATRIMONIAL PRAYER
------------------------
P O Lord, our great and eternal God,that made life of the void
and created the universe by Your Logos, and formed man with
Your immaculate Hands, in Your image and according to Your
likeness, and from one created the other, for You said that it
is not good that the man should be alone, so You caused a
great sleep to fall upon Adam and took one of his ribs and
closed up the flesh instead therof. Because of this a man
leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they
become one body, and what God has joined together let no man
put asunder. O You who blessed Abraham with Sarah, Isaac with
Rebecca, and Jacob with Leah and Rachel, and purified all who
were joined in blessing, now O Master Lord look upon Your
servants [Groom] and [Bride] his helpmate. Confirm their union,
guard their bed in purity. Shield them and their home with
Your inconquerable Right Hand. Save them from all envy and
intriques. Preserve them in harmony to reveal unto You O
Living God the fruit of life from the womb. Bless them, O
God, as You blessed Abraham with Sarah, and Isaac with
Rebecca, and Jacob with Leah and Rachel. As for the men and
women who are here with us, bless them in The Name of our Lord
and our God and Savior Jesus Christ, for Glory is Your due
with Him and the Holy Spirit now and forever and unto the ages
of all ages. Amen.
C Do not forget Your covenant, that You have established with
our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, your saints.
O Angels of this day, who are flying up to heaven with this
song of praise, remember us before the Lord that He may
forgive us our sins.
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison
A PRAYER FOR SUBMISSION
-----------------------
P Listen O God to us, we unworthy sinners, and establish the
union of Your servants [Groom] and [Bride] his helpmate. Save
them from all evil, and lengthen their lives in meekness
calmness, endurance and obedience, and keep them blameless and
without fall. Englighten their hearts and minds so that they
may always do Your will, because You are all-merciful to all
who cry out to You, and we send unto You glory, honor and
worship with Your Good Father and The Holy Spirit, now and
forever and unto the age of ages. Amen.
C May God bless us; we shall give praise to His Holy Name at all
times; His song of praise is always on our lips.
For blessed is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, The
perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify You.
(The Priest recites this prayer over the Oil before anointing the
couple. The People respond each time: Amen.)
PRAYER OVER THE OIL
-------------------
P O Lord, God Almighty, The Father of our Lord, our God and our
Savior Jesus Christ, who anointed, out of the fruit of the
rich Olive tree, priests, kings, and prophets. We pray and
entreat You, O Good Lord, Lover of Mankind, to bless this oil
so that it becomes an oil to sanctify Your servants [Groom] and
[Bride].
AMEN
The weapon of righteousness and justice.
AMEN
The anointment of purity and incorruption.
AMEN
Light and unfading beauty.
AMEN
Joy, ornament and true comfort.
AMEN
Power, salvation and victory over all the deeds of the
adversary.
AMEN
Renewal and salvation for their souls, their bodies and their
spirits.
AMEN
Wealth with the fruit of good deeds.
AMEN
Glory and honor to Your Holy Name with Your Only Begotten Son
and The Holy Spirit, the life-giver, who is consubstantial
with You now and forever and ever.
AMEN
(The Priest anoints the bridegroom with the Oil, while the People
chant:)
C May this oil destroy the demons; this oil is against the evil
spirits; this is the oil of holy spirits; this oil is against
the impure spirits, through Jesus Christ the King of Glory.
For blessed is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, The
perfect Trinity. We worship and glorify You.
(While the Priest anoints the bride, the People chant:)
You have anointed my head with oil, and your cup made me drunk
as if with pure wine; your mercy will follow me all the days
of my life.
For blessed is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit. The
perfect Trinity. We sorship and glorify You.
P O God, the Lord of hosts, whose mercies are countless, whose
goodness is beyond comprehension, we ask You to accept our
supplications. Guard Your servants [Groom] and [Bride]. Protect
their bed in purity. Fortify them by Your pure angels, and
send upon us from Your ever ready abode a multitude of Your
compassions. Disperse our many faults by Your goodness, and
grant us to be in the places of rest of Your saints in the
Heavenly Kingdom, through Your only Begotten Son Jesus Christ
our Lord, who is glorified.
(The Priest holds the crowns and prays over them. Each time, the
PEOPLE respond: Amen.)
P O Holy God, who crowned the saints with unfading crowns and
reconciled and united heavenly and earthly beings; O Master,
bless now these crowns which we are going to set upon Your
servants' heads. Make these crowns for them:
Crowns of glory and honor, Amen
Crowns of blessing and salvation, Amen
Crowns of joy and happiness, Amen
Crowns of jubilation and delight Amen
Crowns of comfort and strength, Amen
Grant Your servants, who are wearing them, the protection of
the Angel of Safety and the bond of love. Guard them against
all evil thoughts and desires; let your mercy be upon them.
Provide them with everything they need without delay all
thoughout their life. Give them joy through their sons and
daughters. Make their children good and true members of Your
one universal orthodox church. Guide their way in
righteousness through the good will of Your Good Father and
the Holy Spirit. Amen.
C Place the crowns O priest of Emmanuel, place the crowns O
Shepherd of Israel, place the crowns in glory and joy, crown
[Groom] the bridegroom to [Bride] the bride.
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison
P O Lord, crown Your servants with Crowns of unvanquished grace.
Amen.
Crowns of elevated and everlasting glory, Amen.
Crowns of unopposed good faith, Amen
And bless all their actions. Amen
Because, Christ our God, You are the giver of all good things,
Glory be to You with the Father and the Holy Spirit; now and
forever. Amen.
(The Priest puts the vestments on the groom and makes the sign of
the Cross over them:)
Crown them with glory and honor, O Father, Amen.
Bless them, O Only-Begotten Son, Amen.
Sanctify them, O Holy Spirit, Amen.
(At this point in the service, the rings are exchanged and the
wedding document is signed)
BLESSING OF BRIDE AND GROOM
C In the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit the
perfect Trinity, AXIOS [Blessed], AXIOS, AXIOS.
P May the peace of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ,
which He has given to his pure disciples in the Upper Room of
Zion, be with you both, may it always stay with you and dwell
in your house. May the Lord grant you a long and prosperous
life together, for this great joy that He has sanctioned for
you. And may God protect you, my brother, with his mighty arm
and establish the orthodox faith in you. Through His great
power and benevolence may He bring all your efforts to a good
and successful end.
Know that God Almighty, after creating everything, looked at
His creation and saw that it was good. Then He said, "Let us
make man in our image, after our likeness." God, blessed be
His name, has no parallel or counterpart, but what He said
meant that man has three attributes: reason, speech, and
spirit. So, God created Adam and made him priest, prophet,
and king. He said in the Torah, through Moses, after creating
Adam: "It is not good that [Adam] should be alone: I will
make him a helpmate for him:" for God so loved and cared for
him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam,
and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the
flesh instead thereof. And He made the rib a woman and called
her Eve.
When Adam woke up and looked at the woman, he liked her and he
said: "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh."
Woman was created from man's rib so that she may belong to him
and be submissive to him while he, too, may be gentle and kind
to her and not neglect her. She may not deem herself above
him, but should be obedient to him. They should both be in
harmony through good reasoning and love. Neither of them
should make decisions separately without consulting with the
other. In this way their offspring may be blessed.
God has sanctioned marriage in both the Old and the New
Testament. He further confirmed that in the holy gospels by
saying: "Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother,
and shall cleave unto his wife." He also said in the Holy
gospels: He commanded that a man love his wife, even as our
Lord, Jesus Christ, loves His Church, for whom He has
sacrificed Himself on the Cross.
Now since you have been present at this blessed time before
the sanctuary of the Lord of Hosts and His Holy Altar and in
the midst of this congregation, you have been joined together
and united in the blessedness of matrimony. We remind both of
you that our forefather who were believers in Christ and were
married, were joined in blessed matrimony following the rule
of monogamy. They sought to marry for procreation and to
fulfill the divine command. So you too, follow in the steps
of our forefathers and submit yourselves to one another in
love and purity.
C Take unto you, O bridegroom, Your bride, Jesus Christ Has
given her to you, and at the hand of the priest he has given
her to you, and blessed you both with His Holy Name.
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison
P My blessed son, may the grace of the Holy Spirit strengthen
you to take unto yourself your wife, in purity of heart and in
sincerity. Do all that is good for her. Have compassion on
her and always hasten to do that which will gladden her heart.
Take care of her as her parents did in love and in humility
remembering that you have been crowned with heavenly crowns
and confirmed by the grace of God. Remember that if you
fulfill the divine commandments which urge you to look after
your wife, the Lord will bless you in all you do, because His
blessing is enjoyed by those who live in harmony: He will
grant you blessed children and a long peaceful life; He will
bless You in this life and the hereafter.
Listen O bride and lend your ear, forsake your people and your
father's home, for your chastity has appealed in the
bridegroom, and he is your husband and to him you will submit.
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison
P And you, blessed daughter, and happy bride, you have heard
what was commanded of your husband. So you must honor and
respect him, do not disagree with him but increase your
obedience to him over what was commanded many times. For you
are now alone with him and he is responsible for you instead
of your parents. So you must receive him with joy and cheer,
do not frown in his face, observe all your obligations to him,
and fear God in all you do. Because God the most high
instructed you to submit to him and commanded you to obey him
as you obey your parents. So obey him as our mother Sarah was
obedient to our father Abraham, and used to address him "my
lord." Thus God looked upon her obedience to him, blessed
her, gave her Isaac in her old age, and made her offspring as
the stars of heaven and the sand on the sea shore. So if you
observed what we instructed you to do, and followed all
commandments, the Lord will support you and provide for your
livelihood, the blessings will descend upon your house, and He
will grant you blessed children who will fill your heart with
joy.
C A pure marriage and a revered crown, bless it, Our God
Emmanuel, as You blessed the wedding of Cana of Galilee, for
[Groom] the bridegroom and [Bride] the bride. Kyrie eleison,
Kyrie eleison, Kyrie eleison.
May God bless both of you as He blessed Noah and his wife when
they came out of the ark to start a new life. May He bless
you as He blessed Abraham with Sarah, and Isaac with Rebecca,
and Jacob with Leah and Rachel.
May the Lord who began His divine miracles at the wedding of
Cana of Galilee, bless you inyour new life and bless your
house and transform things that create division into means of
blessing, and fill your hearts with spiritual love. May He
continue His support to you and grant you long happy life with
the blessed children.
May He accept our prayers for this blessed ceremony, reward us
and grant them the incorruptible in place of the corruptible,
the heavenly for the earthly, and forgive us our sins and save
us from the ways of the devil.
May He also bless all those who attended, with his Mighty
Right, and grant them Heavenly rejoice free from trouble.
Through the intercession of our Holy Mother then blessed
Virgin Mary, the Mother of Salvation whom is preferred over
all mankind, and the honored martyr Saint Mark the Evangelist
and all the martyrs and holy saints. Amen
THE LORD'S PRAYER
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
P O Master, Lord, Jesus Christ the Only-Begotten Son of the
Father, who broke all the chains of our sings by His life-
giving and redeeming sufferings, who breathed into the face of
His holy disciples and His pure apostles saying unto them,
Receive you the Holy Spirit, whose sings you remit they are
remitted unto them, and whose sings you retain, they are
retained.
Now, also, O Lord, through Your Holy Apostles, You have given
grace unto them who work as priests, at all times in Your Holy
Church to forgive the sins upon earth, to bind and unbind all
the chains of injustice.
Now also, we ask of Your goodness, O Love-of-man for your
servants, my fathers, my brothers and my humble self, those
who are bowing down their heads before our sacred glory, Grant
us Your mercy, and break all the chains of our sins.
And if we have sinned against You knowingly or unknowingly,
through anxiety of heart, or in deed, or in word, or pettiness
of heart.
O Lord, You who knows man's frailty, as good Love-of-man,
grant us the forgiveness of our sins.
(crossing himself)
Bless us,
(crossing the ministers)
make us pure; absolve us
(crossing the congregations)
and all your people
(Here he privately mentions any whom he pleases
Fill us with Your fear, guide us to do Your good and Holy
will.
For You are our God, and unto You is due all glory, honor,
majesty and worship, with Your Good Father and the Holy
Spirit, Life-giving and Consubstantial with You.
Now, and at all times and unto the ages of all ages.
Amen.
BENEDICTION
-----------
C Amen, Alleluia, glory be to the Father and the Son and the
Holy Spirit. Now and forever and unto the ages of ages Amen.
We cry out and say: O our Lord Jesus Christ, bless the waters
of the rivers, bless the plants and the herbs. bless the
winds of the heaven. May Your mercy and Your peace be a
fortress to Your people.
Save us and have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy, Lord have
mercy, Lord bless, amen. Bless me. Behold the penance.
P Christ our Lord
C Amen. Let it be.
HYMN (optional)
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